Adv Protein Chem 2006 ;73:1-15
Centre de Recherches de Biochimie Macromoléculaire, CNRS FRE-2593, 1919 Route de Mende, 34293 Montpellier Cedex 5, France.
The beta-form of protein folding, one of the earliest protein structures to be defined, was originally observed in studies of silks. It was then seen in early studies of synthetic polypeptides and, of course, is now known to be present in a variety of guises as an essential component of globular protein structures. However, in the last decade or so it has become clear that the beta-conformation of chains is present not only in many of the amyloid structures associated with, for example, Alzheimer's Disease, but also in the prion structures associated with the spongiform encephalopathies. Read More